Disgruntled BJP leaders flock to Keshubhai party

A day after it released its second list of candidates for Gujarat polls, the BJP lost some senior leaders to former CM Keshubhai Patel's Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP).

The party saw severe opposition to the selection of some candidates at the cost of sitting MLAs and local strongmen. 'Outsiders', who lost their seats to delimitation, also faced stiff opposition from party workers in their new constituencies.

BJP MLA Fatehsinh Chauhan and ex-MLA and Kheda district panchayat head Rakesh Rao have joined GPP to contest polls from their respective seats Kalol and Matar, while former minister Bimal Shah is set to contest as an Independent after he was denied ticket from Kapadvanj.

"I won from Matar in 2002 and was dropped in 2007 and this time also the party has not considered my candidature so I have no option but to resign and join Keshubhai's movement," Rao said, adding, "BJP has messed up the candidate selection in Kheda district."

Gujarat BJP SC Morcha chief Jivaraj Chauhan resigned after the party fielded a newcomer from Vadodara City (SC) seat.

Party workers and local leaders in Bhuj also opposed the candidature of 'outsider' Nimaben Acharya, whose seat Dhandhidhan was reserved for SC candidates after the delimitation.

In six seats of Kutch district, the party has spoilt its chances in three segments, such as Bhuj.

In Vadodara district, BJP district panchayat member Ketan Inamdar has joined the fray as an Independent to contest from Congress-held Savli.

In Vejalpur seat in Ahmedabad city, party's candidate, former mayor Amit Shah, has not gone down well with the local workers.